The initiative will enable the organization to explore and demonstrate a new cloud computing model that could be used to consolidate and integrate technology capabilities for critical Command and Control programs.

The project supports NATO's efforts to restructure the alliance to meet 21st century technology challenges, and will be developed by IBM at the Headquarters of the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (HQ SACT) in Norfolk, Virginia.

The on-premise cloud will be used to test and develop network solutions for command, control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance projects. The goal is to demonstrate how recent developments in cloud computing can reduce ramp-up time for enhanced technology capabilities, while improving important operational functions, such as increasing situational awareness and faster decision-making.

"We look forward to working with IBM to help us understand emerging information technologies and see how we can use them to create a leaner and more agile organization," said Johan Goossens, Head of ACT's Technology & Human Factors Branch. "Through this collaborative project, we hope to be able to realize the potential of cloud computing to tackle new challenges more efficiently, ultimately benefiting the NATO member nations."

"We are pleased to share IBM's expertise in cloud computing with NATO and explore ways to help this important organization improve their technology capabilities," said Anne Altman, general manager, IBM Global Public Sector. "Cloud computing has the potential to dramatically improve decision-making based on real-time data and lay a strong foundation for greater focus on innovation so that NATO can achieve its complex mission requirements."

IBM will develop the computing environment to share a common operating environment across many mission processes, allowing the environment to be built in a way that is more secure, scalable and robust than the many disparate operating environments that have been used in the past. By aggregating and sharing disparate computing resources, from networks to servers to storage, a cloud computing model will help the Alliance deploy IT capabilities more broadly, quickly and cost effectively.

IBM provides cloud computing capabilities for private and public sector organizations globally. In the government market, IBM is using cloud environments to help clients speed technology implementations, reduce IT and energy costs, and employ new capabilities to improve services. In addition to building private clouds, IBM has an established Federal Community Cloud to meet the specific security requirements of the U.S. Federal government, and a Municipal Shared Services cloud for state and local governments.

These capabilities are helping government organizations transform core IT processes, for example by analyzing large volumes of data, running faster military simulations, identifying waste, fraud and abuse in social services programs, conducting more comprehensive health care outcomes, constructing global climate models, and helping predict and manage real-time traffic patterns.